Industrial and Commercial Outside Sales Associate

Turtle and Hughes•La Porte, TX

About The Position

Turtle & Hughes is seeking an experienced outside sales professional to develop and grow profitable business across Houston-area industrial and commercial markets, with coverage throughout the Gulf Coast region. This field-based role combines salary with unlimited commission and requires regular customer visits and travel throughout the market. The position manages industrial and commercial accounts, develops new business, grows existing relationships, and coordinates with internal teams, manufacturers, and suppliers to deliver suitable solutions at competitive prices while protecting gross margin. The salesperson will serve industrial customers such as manufacturing facilities, refineries, petrochemical and chemical plants, energy companies, terminals, and other process facilities. They will also serve electrical contractors, general contractors, developers, facility operators, property managers, and other commercial construction and facility customers. The role involves understanding customer operations and purchasing requirements, identifying opportunities for products and services, and building relationships with decision-makers at multiple levels. The successful candidate will build a pipeline of opportunities, manage accounts and forecasts, support customers through the sales process, and work with Turtle & Hughes teams and supplier partners to fulfill customer requirements. The goal is to develop lasting customer relationships and profitable, sustainable business throughout the Gulf Coast market.

Requirements

5–7 years of outside sales experience in the industrial and/or commercial markets of the Gulf Coast.
Established relationships with customers, contractors, industrial facilities, or other decision-makers in the Gulf Coast market.
Demonstrated success developing new business and growing existing accounts.
Ability to sell through relationships, technical understanding, responsiveness, and value rather than price alone.
Strong understanding of the electrical distribution or electrical contracting environment.
Ability to understand customer requirements and translate them into practical product or service solutions.
Strong prospecting, presentation, negotiation, and follow-up skills.
Ability to independently manage multiple customers, opportunities, and priorities.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn CRM and other sales systems.
Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the Gulf Coast region.

Nice To Haves

Experience with an electrical distributor, electrical contractor, manufacturer, or manufacturer's representative.
Existing relationships with electrical contractors, industrial customers, EPCs, engineering firms, or facility operators.
Experience selling electrical products, MRO products, project solutions, automation, lighting, wire and cable, switchgear, controls, or related products.
Experience selling into oil and gas, petrochemical, manufacturing, industrial, commercial construction, or other Gulf Coast markets.
Experience managing larger strategic accounts or complex sales opportunities.
Experience working with project-based and recurring MRO business.

Responsibilities

Develop new industrial accounts and expand existing customer relationships.
Build relationships with plant and maintenance managers, electrical and instrumentation personnel, procurement teams, engineers, project managers, contractors, and other industrial decision-makers.
Understand customer operations and identify opportunities beyond individual product transactions.
Sell electrical distribution products, project solutions, MRO support, inventory programs, and other services suited to customer requirements.
Identify plant projects, expansions, turnarounds, maintenance requirements, capital projects, and other potential business.
Help customers improve product availability, reduce downtime, manage inventory, and simplify procurement.
Develop relationships with industrial contractors and engineering firms supporting customer projects.
Coordinate with operations, purchasing, project management, and suppliers on larger industrial requirements.
Protect gross margin while building long-term customer relationships.
Develop relationships with electrical contractors and commercial construction customers throughout the Gulf Coast.
Identify new construction, renovation, tenant improvement, service, maintenance, and facility opportunities.
Build relationships with owners, estimators, project managers, purchasing personnel, foremen, and other contractor decision-makers.
Identify projects early and position Turtle & Hughes before the final purchasing stage.
Support contractors with product selection, pricing, availability, lead times, and project requirements.
Coordinate with project and lighting teams when opportunities require specialized project support.
Develop recurring business opportunities in addition to one-time project purchases.
Monitor competitor activity, pricing, customer requirements, and market conditions.
Follow quotations and opportunities through to sale and manage customer relationships after orders are placed.
Prospect for new customers and opportunities throughout the Gulf Coast market.
Maintain and grow an assigned customer base and develop account plans for key customers and prospects.
Make regular face-to-face customer visits and develop relationships at multiple levels within important accounts.
Identify opportunities before they become competitive RFQs whenever possible.
Follow up consistently on quotations, projects, and customer opportunities.
Develop an understanding of customer purchasing patterns and future requirements.
Work with inside sales, project management, operations, purchasing, and supplier partners to serve customers effectively.
Maintain accurate customer, opportunity, activity, and forecast information in company systems.
Participate in customer and contractor meetings, job walks, industry events, and supplier meetings.
Represent Turtle & Hughes professionally throughout the Gulf Coast market.
Build a meaningful pipeline, develop new customer relationships, grow revenue and gross margin, increase the company's share of key accounts, and generate profitable, sustainable business.